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Friday, January 6, 2006

Don't Let Worry Rule Your Career

Written by - Deborah Brown-Volkman

Many of us are worried about our career. We worry that we wonâ€™tfind employment, keep the employment we have, or survive thedemands of an increasing workload. Worrying is tough. It keepsus up at night questioning our future and ourselves.So, why do we worry? We worry when we have a situation in frontof us and we are scared that it won't work out. We are afraidthat we will make the wrong decision (again), fail, or look badin front of others. This fear keeps us from seeing a way out.

Worrying wonâ€™t move your career forward; it will only hold itback.

If You Want More Freedom (And Less Worry) In Your Career, ThereAre Steps You Can Take. Hereâ€™s How:

1. Donâ€™t Let Worrying Consume You

Easier said than done? Yes, bad things happen to good people. Weall know great people who were outsourced, let go, or demoted.Will this happen to you to? No one really knows. Maybe yourcareer will be great and you do not know it yet. (Or, maybe itwas and you havenâ€™t recaptured that yet.) Itâ€™s ok to wonder whatwill happen. But if worrying is more prevalent than wonder, thenyou are not being fair to yourself.

2. Embrace Uncertainty

Uncertainty is good. Uncertainty gives you energy and keeps youon your toes. When you are not worried about tomorrow, you canfocus on today. Face what you are worried about so its power overyou disappears. Ask yourself what you can right now to tackleyour worry. Once you have your answer, you wonâ€™t be afraid of thefuture anymore.

3. Create A New Future

If you were not worried about your career, what would you bedoing differently? Would you be bolder? Tougher? Happier? Wouldyou be in the same job? The same career? Would you be working foryourself or running your company? Would you be working part-timeor telecommuting? Would you be living in a different city orcountry? Get these thoughts on paper. These thoughts are calledyour vision, which is your true wish for your career. Look atyour vision everyday. Donâ€™t talk yourself out of your vision bygiving reasons why it wonâ€™t happen. Instead, use your words toinspire you and give you something to look forward to in thefuture.

4. Take Action

Small consistent action over time produces results. Inconsistent action coupled with worry delays results. You will reach your goals if you work on them regularly. Here is the magic formula: you put in the work, and you reach your goals. (Note: it mighttake longer than you want but this does not mean it wonâ€™t happen.) What about a goal that seems overwhelming or unachievable? Break it into pieces and then work on a small piece everyday. No matter what. If you want freedom in your career, you have to work at it.

5. Expect Big Things

Our careers are great when we make them great. Expect that big things will happen to you and when you are not worrying anymore, they will.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it mightas well be a life you love!